Machine for clamping heel blanks



Oct. 17, 1939. PARKS I 7 2,176,560

MACHINE FOR CLAMPING HEEL BLANKS Filed July 25, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 9/ f I v 62 54 @z 40 v 9a 92 59 l 62 f 7 z 67 54 62 70 60 MIME/V731? 015M405 mP/rs, jyQMML w HTTORA/E K Oct. 17, 1939. D. PARKS I MACHINE FOR CLAMPING HEEL BLANKS Filed July 25, 1938 4 Sheets-Shet 2 Z Z 5 4. 4 m m 6 1 T0 PA/EK Oct. 17, 1939. D. PARKS MACHINE FOR CLAMPING HEEL BLANKS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 25 1938 Ell Patented Oct. 17, 1939 UITED STATE delivering heel blanks.

In the manufacture of heels, a series of lifts having paste applied thereto are placed by the operator one upon the other until the desired i ATENT oFFioE MACHINE roe CLAMPING HEEL BLANKS 7 Dennis Parks, St. Louis, Mo. 7 Application July 25, 1938, Serial No. 221,059

' 2'5 cam; (01'. 12 -50) This invention relates to the art of heel building, and has for its general object to provide a novel machine for receiving, compressing and height of heel blank has been built up; anail is then driven through the assembled lifts, after if) which the heel blank thus formed is placed under compression until the paste used in securing the lifts together has had time to set, or dry;

The present invention, while ordinarily combined in an unitary machine embodying pasteapplying and nailing mechanisms, is concerned only with novel rotary mechanism for receiving each heel blank as built, maintaining the same under compression until the paste used in building the same has set, or dried, and carrying the finished heel blank to a delivery point, usually in front of the operator engaged in building the heel blanks, and only this heel building described.

, According portion of a complete machine is herein illustrated and to this invention; a rotary member,

hereinafter termed a wheel, is provided, which is adapted to be rotated in stages by the operare such that by the time a given heel blank has been carried around by the wheel from the starting point to the finishing point, which latter is distant from the starting point by the space represented by one stage of movement of the wheel, the paste used in such heel blankwill have set, and the heel blank may be removed, or discharged from the machine.

*In actual practice, I provide automatic means for discharging the finished heel blanks from" the machine, but as this automatic mechanism is combined with the nailing mechanism, which forms no part of the present invention, Ihave simply shown manually-operated means for discharging the finished heel blanks in order from the clamping wheel after merit thereof.

each' stage of move- 1 One of the principal objects of the invention re lates to the provision of a novel clamping plate, constituting one member of each clamping device, which is so constructed as to automatically present a firm resisting surface to-the base of the heel blank, Whether the same be 'concaved, as is usual with heels for ladies shoes, or fiat, as in other types of heels. 7

Another object of the invention is to mount the clamping plate of each clamping device on an operating member in such manner that it is free to pivot in the clamping operation in order to adjust itself to various degrees of angularity of the base of the heel blank produced by the wedges employed in building a deckedfheel blank, and which degrees of angularity will vary from the vertical Within relatively wide limits.

Ordinarily, my machine will find its widest application in the manufacture of decked heels for ladies shoes; it is, however, equally efficient in holding under compression other types of heels, or heel blanks. In fact, all types of heel blanks coming within the range of size of the clamps with which a" given machine is equipped, may be clamped and held under compression with equal efficincy. p

In the operation of the machine, each heel blank as built is placed by the operator inaclamp ing device, and he then operates a foottreadle which, through suitable mechanism, operates to turn the wheel a given distance, representing the space between one clamping device and the next one in succession. This latter clamping device will contain a heel blank which has completed the circuit described by the wheel and is therefore dry and ready for removal.

Withthe above operation inmind, it is a further object of the invention to provide novel means, operating in the movement of thewheel, to automatically retract a movable clamping plate'cooperating with' the base plate'of a clampingdevice, to permit the heel blankto be knocked out,,either by automatically operated, or manually operated means, as described, and in the same movement of the wheel to force and hold the clamping plate of the preceding clamping device, in which a newly assembled and'pastedheel blank has just been inserted, into firm compressing. contact with such heel blank, .and to hold it in such contact until the heel blank has'complet- 56 ed a cycle of movement of the Wheel and been brought to the discharging position, when its clamping plate is retracted to permit. the heel blank to be discharged, in the manner stated.

A still further object of the invention relates 55" to the provision of automatic means for arresting the movement of the wheel after each operation thereof to cause a clamping device to be stopped in position to have a finished heel blank knocked therefrom and a preceding clamping device, from which the heel blank has been removed, to be stopped in position to have a fresh heel blank inserted therein.

A final object of the invention relates to the provision of means for enabling all of the base plates of the clamping devices to be simultaneously adjusted toward or from the respective complemental clamping plates, in accordance with the height of the heel blanks being built at any particular time.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. l is a view of the machine in side elevation; Fig. 2 is a similar view looking at the opposite side of the machine from that shown in Fig. 1, certain parts being broken away; Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional View taken on the line 44 of Fig; 1; Fig. 5 is a broken view in elevation, showing a different position of the wheel operating and controlling mechanisms from that shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a detail view on an enlarged scale, parts being in dotted lines, illustrating the wheel-stopping mechanism; Fig. '7 is a sectional plan View, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the wheel, taken on the line 'I--! of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of one of the clamping devices, shown in the open position, and with a heel blank inserted between the clamping members; Fig. 9 is a similar view with the clamping device closed, showing particularly the manner of engaging the concaved base of a heel blank; Fig. 10 is a similar view showing my improved clamping device in engagement with a heel blank having a fiat base; Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line I II I ofFig. 9; and Fig. 12 is a face view of a clamping plate and the upper portion of its supporting arm.

Referring now to' the drawings, the numeral I indicates, generally, the frame of the machine,

comprising two rectangular parts 2, 3, respectively (Fig. 3), bolted together, as indicated at 4, and held in parallel relation by interposed spacing members 5. Fixedly secured at its opposite ends in the frame members 2, 3, as by set screws 6 (Fig. 4) is a shaft 1 on which is rotatably mounted the clamping wheel 8 through the medium of a hub 9. Mounted on an inward projection of this hub and secured to wheel 8 by means of screws I9 (Fig. 4) is a ratchet wheel II (Fig. 2), the wheel and ratchet being held in position on the shaft by a collar I2, washer I3, and the hub I4 of an arm I5 on which is pivotally mounted a ratchet I6, which is held in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel I I by a'spring I1. The hub I4 is pivotally mounted on shaft I and bears against the inner end of hub 9 and the central portion of sprocket wheel II mounted thereon. Pivotally connected to arm I 5 is the upper end of a bar I8, the lower end of which is pivotally connected to a foot treadle I9 intermediate the ends thereof. Treadle I9 is pivotally mounted at its inner end on one of the bolts 4 at the bottom and rear of the machine (Figs. 1 and 3), and is normally pulled upward by a long coil spring 20, the upper end of which is conveniently loosely secured by a clip 2| (Fig. 4) to shaft I, and the lower end of which is secured at 22 to the treadle. Spring 29 is under constant tension and operates to hold the outer end of treadle I9 in a raised position, and to return it to such position after depression. When the treadle is depressed the ratchet I6 rides over the teeth of ratchet wheel II, and when pressure on the treadle is released, it is raised by spring 29, the ratchet wheel IS engages one or the other of the teeth of ratchet wheel I I, and the wheel 8 is thereby caused to be rotated. The upward movement of the treadle is arrested by means of a depending stop-pin 23 (Fig. 3) adjustably mounted on an upper, horizontal frame member 24 by means of binding nuts 25, and against the lower end of which the outer end of arm l5, actuated by bar i8, is adapted to engage to limit the upward movement of the treadle. As stated, the wheel 8 is adapted to be rotated in stages, and the mechanism for positively stopping the movement of the wheel at the end of each stage of movement, will now be described, referring particularly to Figures 2, 5 and 6.

Secured on a central frame member 26, as by bolts 21, is a plate 28, the lower edge portion of which is provided with end bearings 29 and an intermediate recessed portion 39. Slidably and rotatably mounted in said bearings and projecting rearwardly beyond the end of plate 28 is a rock-shaft 3|. Secured on this rock-shaft and housed within the recess 39 is a sleeve 32, between the ends of which and the inner ends of the bearings 29 are positioned coil springs 33, which serve to center the sleeve in the recess 39. Formed integral with the inner side of sleeve 32, and located at a slight distance therefrom (Fig. 4) is a cam-plate 35, cast integral with the inner face of which are two stop members 36, 31, respectively, from the inner ends of each of which extend oppositely directed cam members 38, 39, respectively. The stop-members 36, 31 are separated from each other a sufficient distance to provide a vertical space 40, the purpose of which will presently appear. Secured on the projecting portion of rock-shaft 3I is a collar 4 I, having an integral, laterally extending flange 42 (Fig. 3), apertured to receive loosely a rod 43, the lower end of which is pivotally secured to treadle I9 at 44.- A coil spring 45 is interposed between the under side of fiange 42 and a collar 46 secured on rod 43, and a similar spring 41 is interposed between the upper side of said flange and an adjusting nut 48 secured on the end of the rod. I will now describe the wheel 8 in detail, after which the co-operation of the stop mechanism just described can be better explained.

Referring particularly to Figs. 3, 4 and 7, the numeral 49 indicates an annular member in the form of a flat ring, which is connected to the hub 9 by spokes 50. Formed integral with these spokes is a circular bearing member 5|, which is concentrically located centrally between the hub and annular member 49, and which will be referred to later. The ring 49 has its fiat surface radially disposed, and constitutes the actual rim of the wheel. The numeral 52 indicates a complemental fiat ring of the same diameter as, and spaced from the rim 49; these two members present opposed parallel sides. The inner side of ring 52 is provided with a circumferential groove 53 (Figs. 4 and 7). Interposed between rim 49 and ring 52 at equal intervals around their entire circumference are a series of base plates 54 each of which constitutes a fixed member of a clamping device (Figs. 8 to 10). Each of the base plates has an upper portion presenting a fiat, inner side, and a lower reduced portion, or lug, 55 which is slidably fitted between the rim 49 and ring 52 and is provided on one sidewith a rectangular flange 56 which fits snugly but slidably in the groove 53 of ring 52 (Figs. 4 and- 7). Thebottom of each base plate beyond the sides of the lug-55 provides shoulders which rest upon the peripheries of rim 49 and ring 52, as shown in Figs. 4- and 11. The lug 55 of each base plate ismadeconsiderably thicker than the plate proper, as shown, and is provided with a transverse bolt-hole. As to all but fourof these plates, a bolt-51 is passed through this bolthole and a corresponding hole in ring 52 and secured by a nut 58 (Fig. 7), the head of the bolt being countersunk in the side of'thelug. The four plates referred to are secured in position in the following manner:

At four equi-distant points around its circumference, the rim 49 is provided with circumferential slots 59(Fig. l) and a bolt is passed through each of these slots, thebolt-hole in the lug 55, and a corresponding bolt-hole in ring 52, and secured by a nut 6 I bearing against the outer side of ring 52 (Fig. 7). The four bolts 60operate to anchor ring 52-to rim 49,- and by loosening nuts 6! ring 52 can be turned for any distance within the limits of slots 59 to simultaneously move all of the base plates 54 toward orfrom complemental clamping plates 62,- which latter, and the manner of mounting the same, will now be described.

Each of the clampingplates 62-, as well as its complemental base plate 54, is of the general shape of a heel lift; that is, its sides and bottom are straight and-its top rounded, as shown by Fig. 12, and its rear side is formed with a surrounding flange 63. The central lower portion of the plate is cut out-to provide a rectangular opening 64 (Figs. 8,- 9, 10, 12). In cutting out this opening, a portion of the flange 63 at the bottom of-the plate is also cut away to an extent equal to the thickness of the plate, leaving a support 65, bridging the opening at its bottom. Mounted in the opening is a bearing plate 56 provided with a flat, rectangular off-set portion fil -at its upper end, the outer side of which is adapted normally to lie flat against the inner side of-clamping plate 62, which is preferably.

thickened to provide this bearing surface, as indicated at 68, and the upper end of which 01T- set portion is provided with a rearwardly-extending flange 69. The numeral 10 indicates, in each instance, a pivoted arm, of which the drawings show twenty-two (Fig. 2), on the upper end of each of which a clamping plate 62 is mounted. Each of these arms is provided toward its upper end with an apertured bearing 1| (Fig.

12) through which, and an aperture in rim 49,

extends a bolt 12,-the head 13 of which projects into the groove 53 (Fig. 7) and the outer end of which receives a nut 14 which is turned into contact with the outer side of rim 49. The outer end of each bolt 12 projects a considerable distance beyond nut 14, for a purpose to be presently described, and is separately indicated by the numeral 15. As will be seen, the bearings "H act as spacers to maintain rim 49 and ring 52 in parallel relation. The upper end of each arm 10 is provided with an inward projection 16 having a flat, rectangular face which bears against the corresponding flat face of the rear side of each off-set portion 51, its upper end engaging the under side of flange 69. The clamping plate 52, slightly above the opening54, is provided with a counter-sunk bolt-hole 62 which aligns with bolt-holes 61 and [6 formed in the off-set portion 61 and the projection 16, respectively, and through -theseholespasses a bolt TI; the head 18 of which is received in the counter-sunk portion of bolt-hole 62 so as to lie flush with the surface of plate. 82, and the inner end of which projects beyond the rear side of projection 16 and isscrew-threaded to receive a nut 19, forming an adjustable stop for the outer end of a coil spring 8| surrounding said bolt and housed in a recess82-formed in the upper end of arm 10 and-projection 15 concentric with the aperture therein. The apertures described are somewhat larger in diameter than the bolt 11 to permit of relative movement between the associated parts of *the clamping plate and its mounting, as illustrated in Fig. 9. The lower end of each arm 10 is formed with a foot 83 which rests upon and has slidable engagement with the periphery of the-circularbearing member 5|.

Asthe wheel 8 is rotated in stages by the operator, I provide means for automatically retracting each clamping plate 62 in order, to permit a finished, or dried, heel blank to be removed, to hold theclamping plate in a retracted position while the open clamp is brought to position to have a built-up heel blank inserted therein, and then to force the clamping plate into contact with the inserted heel blank to compress the same between said'clamping plate and its associated base plate and to hold the heel blank compressed until the clamp has made a complete circuit with thewheel, when the clamping plate is again retracted. These means will now be described;

Mounted on the side frame 2 is an inwardly extending frame member 84 (Fig. 4) on the end of which is rotatably secured a small wheel 85, on a stub: bearing 86, a portion of which wheel, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, projects beyond the periphery of the circular bearing member 5|. The arms 10 are located in the vertical plane of wheel 85 and the feet 83 project laterally therefrom a suflicient distance to extend over the periphery of circular bearing 5|, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. Wheel 85 is so positioned that in the rotation of wheel 8 in the direction indicated by the arrow,each foot 83 in turn will engage and ride over the projecting portion of wheel 85, with the result that the lower portion of its arm 19 will be turned upwardly on itspivot 12, thereby moving its clamping plate 62 away from its associated base plate 54 to release clamping pressure on a heel blank, the particular heel blank affected by this operation being indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 by the numeral 81. This heel blank is then removed, and in the next stage of movement of wheel 8 the foot of arm 19 carrying the released clamping plate 62 will continue to ride on wheel 85to maintain the clamp open for the insertion of a fresh heel blank, such open clamp being indicated by the numeral 88.

In the present embodiment of the invention I provide manual means for removing each released heel blank 81. To this end I pivotally mount on the upper end of an upright frame member 89 (Fig. 4) the outer end of an arm 98, which is movable against the resistance of ya coil spring 98 (Fig. 1). The arm 99 extends inward over and beyond wheel 8, and its inner end is provided on its upper side with a handle 92 and on its underside with'a knocker 93.. To remove the heel blank, the operator simply grasps handle 92 and swings arm across the wheel 8, the knocker 93 engaging the heel blank 8'! and removing it from the clamp, whence it may conveniently fall into a chute Y94 and be delivered in a receptacle Each of the arms 19 *is" controlled by a pull spring 95, and when its foot passes off of wheel 85 said spring will draw the lower end of the arm downward to force its clamping plate 62 into engagement with the fresh heel blank inserted in the previously emptied clamp 88.

From the foregoing it will be seen that two of the arms 70 are always held in a retracted posi tion at the same time by the wheel 85, one releasing contact of its clamping plate 62 with a heel blank and being held in its retracted position during the next stage of movement of wheel 8, while during such movement thearm l9 immediately following is raised to move its clamping plate from engagement with a heel blank.

In describing the feet 83 as moving over the periphery of the circular bearing 5| it will be understood that such description only applies when the clamps are empty, as shown at the left of Fig. 1; while, when the clamps contain heel blanks, as shown in Fig. 2, the feet will necessarily be held out of contact with the surface of bearing as otherwise, the clamping plates could not exert pressure on the heel blanks.

Reverting to the stop mechanism previously described, and with special reference to Figs. 2, 5 and 6, the manner in which wheel 8 is caused to rotate in stages may now be explained. The cam 38 is located in the path of movement of the projecting ends 75 (Figs. 1 and 7) of bolts 72 on which the arms H7 are pivotally mounted, and one of these projections normally rests in the space 48 between the two stops 36 and 31 (Fig. 2). When the operator depresses treadle 19, thereby pulling rod 33 downward, the pressure exerted on spring ll will cause it to force flange 32 downward and turn rock-shaft 3!, which will turn cam-plate 35 downward and move stop 36 below the projection 15 occupying space 40. When the treadle is released, wheel 8 will immediately be rotated under the power of spring 20 exerted through bar 18, ratchet l6 and ratchet wheel ll, while the return movement of cam-plate 35 is delayed slightly until the compression of the upper spring is released and compression of lower spring 45 begins to exert its pressure on the under side of flange 42 with the upward movement of rod 43. This brings the parts to the position shown in Fig. 5. In the continued movement of wheel 8, the released projection 15 will ride over cam 39 as cam plate 35 is turned upward, while a succeeding projection 75 will engage and ride under cam 38 and engage stop 36, thereby arresting the rotation of wheel 8. The power of spring 41 is adjusted by nut 43 to be slightly greater than that of spring 45, s0 that when a projection 75 passes from under cam 38 and enters space 40, the cam-plate 35 will be turned downward slightly, causing the projection to rest in space 5! between and in engagement with both stops 35 and 3i, thus preventing movement of wheel 3 in either direction. The above operations are repeated with each depression and release of treadle !9, the arrangement being such that with each stoppage of wheel 8, each released clamp will be brought to rest opposite knocker 93, and the preceding empty clamp 88 in convenient reach of the operator.

In the use of the machine, the operator, having built up a heel blank to the required height with pasted lifts and caused a nail to be driven through the compiled lifts, inserts the heel blank in the empty clamp 88, and after knocking the dried heel blank 8? from the clamp next following my manipulating handle 92, as previously explained, depresses treadle l9 andthen releases same which, by means of the stop mechanism, the operation of which has been described, causes a rotation through one stage of wheel 8. The above operations are repeated, and by the time each heel blank inserted in an empty clamp 88 has been carried around by the wheel to the position occupied by the heel blank 81 in Fig. 1, it will be completely dried and ready for removal from the machine.

Referring now to Fig. 10, it will be seen that if the heel blank, indicated by A, has a fiat base the bearing plate 68 will remain flush with the surrounding surface of the clamping plate 62, and pressure will be exerted uniformly over the base of the heel blank. If, however, the base of the heel blank is concaved, as usual, particularly, in the manufacture of heels for ladies shoes, it will be seen from an inspection of Figs. 9 and 11, that the bearing plate 56 will be turned outward to engage the bottom of the concave, while the rim the edge portion of the base of the heel blank.

It should be explained that pressure on the edge portion of the base of the heel blank is all that is necessary to maintain the lifts in firm contact with each other until the paste between them has set, or dried, as the nail, indicated by C, driven through the compiled pasted lifts will hold them together throughout their central portion, and it is only necessary to prevent the edge portions of the lifts from separating. Moreover, as the bottom of the heel blank rests flush against the base plate 54, pressure exerted on the top of the heel blank at its edge portion will, to a large extent, be distributed over the entire surfaces of all of the lifts, and is entirely adequate to hold them in binding engagement until the paste has ried.

I will now explain more in detail the action of the clamping plate 62 in clamping a heel blank having a concaved base. Referring to Fig. 8, it will be seen that the surface of plate 62 is inclined outwardly from the base of the inserted heel blank. When the foot 83 passes off of wheel 85 and spring 95 draws the lower end of arm '58 downward to force the clamping plate into engagement with the concaved base of the heel blank, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the lower end of plate 62 first engages the bottom edge of the heel blank and moves it inward, causing its upper portion to be thrown outward into engagement with the base of the heel blank, against the resistance of spring 8|. The rear side of plate 62 along the upper edge of opening 64 is cut away to provide an inclined bearing surface 96 (Fig. 10) and as plate 62 is turned in the manner described, the bearing of off-set portion 61 on the bearing surface 68 of the clamping plate is transferred to the inclined bearing surface 86, and as no resistance is offered to the forward movement of bearing plate 66, it is pressed into engagement with the bottom of the concave in the heel blank by the pressure of projection 16, which will now be exerted at the extreme lower edge of off-set 61, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 9. Thus the heel blank will be firmly pressed against the base plate 54 by pressure of the bearing plate 66 on the bottom of. its concave portion and by pressure of plate 82 on the surrounding portion of the heel blank transmitted from projection 16 through off-set portion 6'1 to the inclined bearing 96.

While the drawings of this application have been made from a full-size commercial machine representing the best-known embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the specific embodiment illustrated, within the scope of the invention, as experience in the operation of the machine may show to be desirable, and the invention, therefore, is not to be limited to the special features illustrated and described for effecting the purpose of the invention except as they may be specifically included in certain of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for clamping heel blanks compiled from pasted lifts comprising, in combination, a circular carrier rotatable in a vertical plane and having clamps mounted at equi-distant intervals around its periphery, one member of each clamp being pivoted, means for rotating said carrier in stages, means operating automatically to cause each clamp in turn to be presented in an open condition at a given stage in the rotation of said carrier to permit a fresh heel blank to be inserted therein, and means operating thereafter in the further movement of the carrier to automatically turn said pivoted member to close' said clamp.

2. A machine for clamping heel blanks compiled from pasted lifts comprising, in combination, a circular carrier rotatable in a vertical plane and having clamps mounted at equi-distant intervals around its periphery, one member of each clamp being pivoted and spring controlled, means for rotating said carrier in stages, and means operating automatically to cause each clamp in turn to be presented in an open condition at a given stage in the rotation of said carrier to permit a fresh heel blank to be inserted therein and thereafter, in the further movement of the carrier to permit said pivoted member to be operated by its spring to close said clamp.

3. A machine for clamping heel blanks compiled from pasted lifts comprising, in combination, a circular carrier rotatable in a vertical plane and having clamps mounted at equi-distant intervals around itsperiphery the latter affording a support for heel blanks, means for rotating said carrier in stages, and means operating automatically to causeeach clamp in turn to be presented in an open condition at a given stage in the rotation of said carrier to permit the removal of a dried heel blank, to present the clamp in an open condition at the completion of the next stage of rotation to permit a fresh heel blank to be inserted therein to rest on said peripheral support, and to close said clamp during the following stage of rotation.

4. A machine for clamping heel blanks compiled from pasted lifts comprising, in combination, a circular carrier rotatable in a vertical plane and having clamps mounted at equi-distant intervals around its periphery the latter affording a support for heel blanks, means for rotating said carrier in stages, means operating automatically to open each clamp in turn during one stage of rotation of said carrier, to hold it open during the next stage of rotation, and to close it during the third stage of rotation, and means for removing the heel blank from the clamp opened during the first named stage of rotation.

5. A machine for clamping heel blanks compiled from pasted lifts comprising, in combination, a circular carrier rotatable in a vertical plane and having clamps mounted at equi-distant intervals around its periphery the latter affording a support for heel blanks, each of said clamps having a movable clamping plate, means for imparting rotation to said carrier at the will of the operator, means for automatically arresting the rotation of said carrier as each clamp in turn is brought to a given point, and means operating automatically during the rotation of said carrier to retract a clamping plate as its clamp arrives at said point to permit the removal of a heel blank, to hold it retracted during the next stage of rotation to permit the insertion of a fresh heel blank in its clamp, and to move the clamping plate to clamping relation with the inserted heel blank during the following stage of rotation.

6. A machine for clamping heel blanks compiled from pasted lifts comprising, in combination, a rotatable circular carrier having clamps mounted at equi-distant intervals around its periphery,each of said clamps having a springpressed clamping plate, means for imparting rotation to said carrier at the will of the operator, means for automatically arresting the rotation of said carrier as each clamp in turn is brought to a given point, and means'operating automatically during the rotation of said carrier to retracta clamping plate as its clamp arrives at said point to permit the removal of a heel blank, to holdit retracted during the next stage of rotation to permit the inserting of a fresh heel blank in the empty clamp, and to' release the clamping plate to permit its spring to return it to clamping relation with the inserted heel blank during the following stage of rotation.

7. A machine for "clamping heel blanks compiled from pasted lifts comprising, in combination, a rotatable circular carrier having clamps mounted at equi-distant intervals around its periphery, each-of said clamps having a pivoted clamping plateprovided with a spring-controlleddepending arm, means for imparting rotation to said carrier at the will of the operator, means for automatically arresting the rotation of said carrier as each clamp in turn is brought to agiven point, and a projection interposed in the path of movement of said arms operating to effect a retraction of each clamping plate as itsclamp arrives at said point to permit the removal of a heel blank, to hold it retracted during the next stage of rotation to permit the insertion of a fresh heel blank in the empty clamp,

and thereafter to release the arm and permit its spring to turn the clamping plate into engagement with the inserted heel blank.

8. A machine for clamping heel blanks compiled from pasted lifts comprising, in combination, a rotatable circular carrier having clamps mounted at equi-distant intervals around its periphery, each of said clamps having a pivoted clamping plate provided with a spring-controlled depending arm, a circular bearing member positioned concentrically on said carrier and nor-- mallysupporting the inner ends of said arms, means for imparting rotation to said carrier at the will of the operator, means for automatically arresting the rotation of said carrier as each clamp in turn is brought to a given point, and a relatively fixed circular member projecting beyond the periphery of said circular bearing member and lying in the path of movement of the lower ends of said arms, operating to effect a retraction of each clamping plate as its clamp arrives at said point to permit the removal of a heel blank, to hold it retracted during the next stage of rotation to permit the insertion of a fresh heel blank in the empty clamp, and thereafter to release the arm and permit its spring to turn the clamping plate into engagement with the inserted heel blank.

9. In a machine for clamping heel blanks compiled from pasted lifts and having concaved bases, a travelling carrier, a series of clamps mounted on the carrier, each of which comprises a relatively fixed base plate and a movable clamping plate cooperating therewith, each of said clamping plates having an independently movable bearing plate located centrally of its bottom portion, and means operating automatically in the travel of the carrier to release each clamping plate in turn from engagement with a clamped heel blank to be removed from the clamp and thereafter to move the clamping plate into engagement with a fresh heel blank inserted in the empty clamp and to force said bearing plate against the bottom of the concave thereof.

10. In a machine for clamping heel blanks compiled from pasted lifts and having concaved bases, a travelling'carrier, a series of clamps mounted .on the carrier, each of which comprises a relatively fixed base plate and a movable clamping plate cooperating therewith and having an independently-movable bearing plate located centrally of its bottom portion, a series of arms pivotally mounted on saidcarrier, each of which has one of said clamping plate and its bearing plate pivotally mounted on its outer end, means operating automatically in the travel of the carrier to actuate each of said arms in turn to release its clamping plate from engagement with a heel blank to be removed and then to move the clamping plate into engagement with a fresh heel blank inserted in the clamp, and means engaged by the arm in its clamping movement to force said bearing plate into contact with the bottom of the concave of the heel blank,

11. In a machine for clamping heel blanks compiled from pasted lifts and having concaved bases, a travelling carrier, a series of clamps mounted on the carrier, each of which comprises a relatively fixed base plate and a movable clamping plate cooperating therewith and having an independently movable bearing plate located centrally of its bottom portion, a series of arms pivotally mounted on said carrier, each of which has one of said clamping plate and its bearing plate pivotally mounted on its outer end on a common pivot, means operating automatically in the travel of the carrier to actuate each of said arms in turn to release its clamping plate from engagement with a heel blank to be removed and then to move the clamping plate into engagement with a fresh heel blank inserted in the clamp, and means on said bearing plate adapted to be engaged by the arm in its clamping movement to force said bearing plate into contact with the bottom of theconcave of the heel blank.

12. In a machine for clamping heel blankscompiled from pasted lifts and having concaved bases, a travelling carrier, a series of clamps mounted on the carrier, each of which comprises a relativelyfixed base plate and a movable clamping plate cooperating therewith and having an independently movable bearing plate located centrally of its bottom portion, a series of arms pivotally mounted on said carrier, each of which has one of said clamping plate and its bearing plate pivotally mounted on its outer end on a common pivot, means operating automatically in the travel of the carrier to actuate each of said arms in turn to release its clamping plate from engagement with a heel blank to be removed and then to move the clamping plate into engagement with a fresh heel blank inserted in the clamp, and an off-set member on each bearing plate adapted to be engaged by said arm in its clamping movement to force said bearing plate into contact with the bottom of the concave of the heel blank.

13. In a machine for clamping heel blanks compiled from pasted lifts and having concaved bases, a travelling carrier, a series of clamps mounted on the carrier, each of which comprises a relatively fiixed base plate and a movable clamping plate cooperating therewith, and having an independently movable bearing plate normally lying flush with its clamping face and provided with an off-set portion extending through the clamping plate and engaging the rear side thereof, a series of spring-controlled arms pivotally mounted on the carrier, each having at its outer end a projection providing a bearing surface engaging the rear face of an off-set portion, a pivot-pin passing loosely through each clamping plate, off-set portion, and projection, engaging said clamping plate at one end and having a stop at its opposite end, and a spring interposed between said stop and projection, and means operating automatically in the movement of the carrier to engage and release each of said arms in turn to effect an opening and closing movement of said clamping plates, the latter movement causing each projection to bear on said off-set portion of abearing plate below its pivot and force the bearing plate into contact with the bottom of the concave of the heel blank.

14. In a machine for clamping heel blanks compiled from pasted lifts and having concaved bases, a circular carrier and means for rotating the same in stages, a series of clamps mounted at intervals around the periphery of said carrier, each of which comprises a relatively fixed base plate and'a movable clamping plate co-operating therewith having an independently movable bearing plate, means operating automatically in the rotation of said carrier'to effect an opening and closing movement of each clamping plate in order, whereby to permit the removal of a dried heel blank and the insertion of a fresh heel blank in the empty clamp, with its concave toward said clamping plate, and means functioning in the closing movement of said clamping plate to'force its bearing plate into contact with the bottom of the concave in the heel blank.

15. In a machine for clamping heel blanks, a circular rotatable carrier, a series of clamps mounted at intervals around the periphery of said carrier, a spring-supported treadle, means actuated by the treadle on its release after a depression for imparting a rotative movement to said carrier, means operating automatically in the movement of said carrier to effect an opening and closing movement of each clamp in order, and means for arresting the movement of the carrier as each open clamp is brought to a given point, comprising a rocking member carrying a stop and adapted to be turned in the depression of the treadle and returned to normal position when the treadle is released, and a series of projections on said carrier corresponding in number and position to said clamp, each of which is adapted in turn to engage said stop and arrest the movement of the carrier, the combination being such that when the treadle is depressed and turns rocking member, the stop will be carried out of the path of the projection .engaging it, and when the treadle is released, the ensuing rotation of the carrier will move saidprojection beyond said stop before the latter returns to normal position to be engaged by. a succeeding projection.

16. In a machine for clamping heel blanks, a circular rotatable carrier, :a series of clamps mounted at intervals around the periphery of said carrier, a spring-supported treadle, means actuated by the treadle on its release aftera depression for imparting a rotative movement to said carrier, means operating automatically in the movement of said carrier to effect an opening and closing movement of each clamp in order, and means for arresting the movement of the carrier as each open clamp is brought to a given point, comprising a spring-balanced rocking member carrying a stop and adapted to be turned in the depression of the treadle and returned to normal position when the treadle is released, and a series of projections on said carrier corresponding in number and position to said clamp, each of which is adapted in turn to engage said stop and arrest the movement of the carrier, the combination being such that when the treadle is depressed and turns the rocking member, the stop will be carried out of the path of the projection engaging it, and when the treadle is released, the ensuing rotation of the carrier will move said projection beyond said stop before the latter returns to normal position to be engaged by a succeeding projection.

17. In a machine for clamping heel blanks, a circular rotatable carrier, a series of clamps mounted at intervals around the periphery of said carrier, a spring-supported treadle, means actuated by the treadle on its release after a depression for imparting a rotative movement to said carrier, means operating automatically in the movement of said carrier to effect an opening and closing movement of each clamp in order, and means for arresting the movement of the carrier as each open clamp is brought to a given point, comprising a spring-balanced and springcushioned rocking member carrying a stop and adapted to be turned in the depression of the treadle and returned to normal position when the treadle is released, and a series of projections on said carrier corresponding in number and position to said clamp, each of which is adapted in turn to engage said stop and arrest the movement of the carrier, the combination being such that when the treadle is depressed and turns the rocking member, the stop will be carried out "of the path of the projection engaging it, and.

when the treadle is released, the ensuing rotation of the carrier will move said projection beyond said stop before the latter returns to normal position'to be engaged by a succeeding projec- 'tion.

18. In a machine for clamping heel blanks, a circular rotatable carrier, a series of clamps mounted at intervals around the periphery of said 1 carrier, a spring-supported treadle, means actustops extending from the center toward opposite sides of the plate, respectively, and having reversely directed cam members extending, respectively, from the bottom of one and the top of the other, said rocking plate being adapted to be turned in the depression of the treadle and returned to normal position when the treadle is released, and' a series of projections on said carrier corresponding in number and position to said clamp, each of which is adapted in turn to slide .over the'cam of theuppermost stop and engage the lowermost stop and arrest the movement of the carrier, the combination being such that when the treadle is depressed and turns the rocking plate, the stop will be carried out of the path of the projection engaging it, and when the treadle is released, the ensuing rotation of the carrier will move said projection beyond said stop before the latter returns to normal position to be engaged by a succeeding projection, the cam thereon afifording a sliding contact with said projection during the return movement of the rocking plate.

19. A clamp for use on a machine of the class described for clamping heel blanks having concaved bases, comprising a base plate, and a cooperating clamping plate for engaging the base of a heel blank, said clamping plate embodying an independent bearing plate, an operating member for the clamping plate, and means for mounting said clamping plate and bearing plate on said member in such manner that in the operation of said member to move the clamping plate into engagement with a heel blank, pressure thereof will be exerted on the bearing plate to force it into engagement with the bottom of the concave of the heel blank.

20. A clamp for use on a machine of the class described for clamping heel blanks having concaved bases, comprising a base plate, and a cooperating clamping plate for engaging the base of a heel blank, said clamping plate embodying an independent bearing plate having one portion flush with the bearing face of the clamping plate at the bottom portion of the latter, and an upwardly extending portion engaging the rear side of the clamping plate proper, an operating member for the clamping plate, and means for yieldably and pivotally mounting the clamping plate as a whole on said member in such manner that said upwardly extending portion will have a shiftable bearing on one side with the clamping plate proper and on its other with said operating member, whereby in the operation of said member to move the clamping plate into engagement with a heel blank, pressure thereof will be exerted on said upwardly extending portion to force the bearing plate into engagement with the bottom of the concave of the heel blank.

21. In a machine of the class described for clamping heel blanks, a carrier comprising two parallel circular members one of which is mounted for rotation, a series of clamps located around the periphery of said carrier between said members, each of said clamps comprising a base plate and a movable clamping plate, all of said base plates being secured on one of said members and all of said clamping plates being mounted on the other, and means for adjustably securing said members together to permit of relative circular movement between them to simultaneously vary the distance between all of said clamping plates and base plates.

22. In a machine of the class described for clamping heel blanks, a carrier comprising two parallel circular members one of which is mounted for rotation, a series of clamps located around the periphery of said carrier between said members, each of said clamps comprising a base plate and a movable clamping plate, all of said base plates being secured on one of said members and all of said clamping plates being mounted on the other, and a bolt and slot connection between said members to permit of relative circular movement between them to simultaneously vary the distance between all of said clamping plates and base plates.

23. A clamp for use on a machine of the class described comprising a base plate, an operating member movable toward and from the base plate, and a clamping plate and co-operating bearing plate pivotally mounted on said member for joint and independent pivotal movement relative to the plane of said base plate.

24. A clamp for use on a machine of the class described comprising a base plate, an operating member movable toward and from the base plate,

a clamping plate 'swivelled on said member and provided with an opening, a bearing plate located in said opening and independently swivelled on said member, said clamping plate and bearing plate being capable of joint and independent pivotal movement relative to the plane of said base plate.

25. A clamp for use on a machine of the class described comprising a base plate, an operating member movable toward and from the base plate, a clamping plate and a co-operating, independent bearing plate having a common swivelling connection on said member, said bearing plate having an operating part interposed between said clamping plate and said member and capable of pivoting on the latter, and said clamping plate being capable of pivoting on said operating part, whereby said clamping plate and bearing plate may jointly and severally assume various inclined positions relative to the plane of said base plate. 20

DENNIS PARKS. 

